Being criticized for your weight is difficult at any age, but for kids, it's particularly painful. That's why it's so important to help children develop a healthy body image early on. This starts at home, and if you're lucky, it continues into the classroom.

Just ask Momstrosity blogger Stephanie Hollifield. When her elementary school-aged daughter was made fun of for her weight, she did everything she could to reassure her that her worth was so much more than a number on a scale. But while the daughter heard what Mom was saying, she only believed a kind, empathetic letter from her teacher.

Last week, Hollifield wrote about the situation on Momstrosity's Facebook page, and shared the heartwarming letter from her daughter's teacher.

She explained that her daughter "is several inches taller and about 6 months older than her friends," and all the girls "had a discussion about how much they weigh, and her number was the biggest."

This resulted in the girls teasing her daughter, and Mom was understandably upset. "This is the first time, but surely not the last time she will worry or fret about her body," Hollifield wrote. "I know this struggle too well. I hate it."

And sadly, body-shaming and name calling are things that often continue into adulthood. Miss T, the teacher, acknowledged that people "are going to do and say things that will hurt your feelings"—even as a grownup.

What Miss T wisely pointed out, though, is that, "Thoughtless words and actions from others say nothing true about you, but rather reveal a great deal about the other person." Miss T reassured Hollifield's daughter she is "beautiful inside and out" and has "one of the kindest hearts of any student" she ever taught.

"When you begin to doubt how lovely you are, remember that numbers on a scale never determine a person's worth. We are all different sizes, colors and shapes and honestly...that's what makes us so beautiful and unique," the teacher wrote.

Miss T's words meant a lot to Hollifield's daughter. "She believed this letter, but she couldn’t believe my messages of support last night. Words are sometimes easier to believe when they don’t come from your mama’s mouth," the Momstrosity blogger wrote.

And the letter meant just as much to Mom. "I'm so happy that girls have support both in and outside of the classroom," Hollifield told Parents.com. "Body types come in all shapes and sizes, and in a world where we're taught to criticize ourselves and each other, this teacher is a ray of light. The more celebrating of our bodies that we can do, the better."